Key events
*Alexandrova 4-6, 2-3 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova responds by holding on to love, but it's hard to see a change in direction here.
Alexandrova 4-6, 1-3 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina cruises here, hitting easy winners, serving big… but Alexandrova connects with a devastating forehand return to make it 30-15. Not that this bothered Rybakina, who finished the game with an ace.
*Alexandrova 4-6, 1-2 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova double-faulted, giving Rybakina another opening at 15-30. Another attempt at a forehand down the line fails and a backhand into the net gives Rybakina the break and the game.
Alexandrova 4-6, 1-1 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina leaves Alexandrova helpless with a forehand into the corner and an ace brings the 2022 Wimbledon champion to 40-15. Another big serve completes the reception.
*Alexandrova 4-6, 1-0 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova is on target again, scoring a backhand to make it 15-30. She finds some room to breathe as she sends a backhand down the line and her second cross goes wide to make it 40-30. She remains calm to hold on.
Rybakina won the first set with a score of 6-4.
Alexandrova's aggression comes at a cost as she misses another right hand. Rybakina eases her way to 30-0 after Alexandrova's long backhand. This is a love affair for Rybakina, who is hosting a wonderful tournament. Alexandrova leads the winners' account but Rybakina saved three break points and quickly converted when she had the chance.
*Alexandrova 4-5 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova's shot along the line is narrow, and Rybakina catches her opponent with a return blow from the left. It's a double fault… Two break points, Rybakina finally made a break. This is followed by a wide forehand, and Rybakina breaks at just the right time. She will serve in the first set.
Alexandrova 4-4 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina pulled Alexandrova past the goal with her serve to set up progress and take a 15-0 lead. Her first ace of the match follows, down the middle. Another ace provides an authoritative welcome.
*Alexandrova 4-3 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova dominated the ace column, allowing her sixth goal of the match to go up 40-15. Her second serve worked too: Rybakina's backhand went crazy.
Alexandrova 3-3 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina delivers a quick serve to Alexandrova's backhand; this is not for return. At 30, Alexandrova returns with a stunning forehand winner: break point. A quick backhand from Rybakina makes it a deuce… and she saves another break point to hold it.
*Alexandrova 3-2 Rybakina (* denotes server): Rybakina attacks Alexandrova's second serve, going inside and hitting a deep forehand return to make the score 15-30. The former hits a backhand winner to make it 30-40, but Alexandrova fights back, finishing with an ace.
Alexandrova 2-2 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Now Rybakina has her own flow, forehand winners move her into a love hold.
*Alexandrova 2-1 Rybakina (* denotes server): Rybakina earns her first point on Alexandrova's serve, sending a delicious, unreachable forehand into the corner. But Alexandrova’s game remains fine, lasting until 30.
Alexandrova 1-1 Rybakina* (* denotes server): This is quite the start from Alexandrova. She took us to 0-30 before Rybakina made a powerful serve to ensure progress on goal, hitting home to claim her first point of the match. Alexandrova landed a long forehand that made it 30-all. Rybakina scores a backhand: break point. Alexandrova's shot from the left also hits the net. Rybakina keeps her cool to reach the level.
*Alexandrova 1-0 Rybakina (* denotes server): And we leave. It's Alexandrova who keeps us moving forward, and with some style: a pair of winning forehands as she holds on for love.
Alexandrova is actually the leader in the head-to-head confrontation with Rybakina (3-2). However, Rybakina was victorious when they met in the final in Ningbo last month with a score of 3-6, 6-0, 6-2. The couple goes out onto the site – we'll start soon.
Alexandrova replaces Kis as Mirra Andreeva The world number nine has “elected not to participate in the tournament due to inability to play today,” the WTA said.
This is from a few days ago this is an insightful passage about how the WTA is letting players down.
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to another day in WTA Final. With all due respect to our opening match, the real fight will be between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova.
Their meeting in the Wimbledon final four months ago was historically one-sided, with Swiatek winning 6-0, 6-0, but it took Anisimova just a few weeks to make a stunning recovery. The American won by a score over Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the US Open, and now we come to the end of the trilogy. Today's winner will advance to the semi-finals in Riyadh.
Before that we had Elena Rybakina against Madison Keys Ekaterina Alexandrova. Keys is out due to illness in the dead rubber, leaving her to be ranked 10th in the world. Rybakina hopes to continue her 100 percent record by defeating Swiatek and Anisimova to book her place in the last four.
